✓ Eighth month of pregnancy: what happens, visits and advice

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Eighth month of pregnancy: what happens?

The countdown has begun. It is now very close to giving birth and all mothers begin to imagine the moment in which they will know their little one or their little girl.

The eighth month of pregnancy is the penultimate, the middle month of the third trimester, when the baby bump begins to weigh, there may be contractions and the baby begins to fit tighter in the belly.

It is also the month in which the mother begins to feel a certain fatigue: tiredness, back pain, heartburn and it can be useful to follow some habits and some useful tips to relieve discomfort.

Let's find out, therefore, everything, absolutely everything abouteighth month of pregnancy.

Symptoms of the eighth month of pregnancy

Very little is missing. The eighth month of pregnancy is the second of the third trimester. In about a month, mothers and fathers will finally be able to hold their little one in their arms. It is a very important month, the one in which the baby usually chooses her position, thus defining the method of delivery (natural or cesarean).

Let's find out what are the main symptoms common to pregnant women in the eighth month of pregnancy:

a dark line appears that joins the navel to the pubis
the navel begins to smooth out
colostrum begins to come out of the nipples
women often suffer from insomnia, the belly is heavy and there is often the need to get up to urinate
back pains may appear or intensify
the uterus is significantly increased, so expectant mothers will feel compression in the lungs
swollen legs and feet
some women may feel contractions, but if they are not regular don't worry, if not, go to the hospital

Eighth month of pregnancy: checks and tests to be done

In addition to the routine blood tests, let's see what are the tests that a woman must undergo during the eighth month of pregnancy.

First of all, it is in this gestational period that the third trimester ultrasound, the growth ultrasound scan, takes place. In fact, between the thirtieth and 32nd week, the expectant mother undergoes the third and last ultrasound scan before giving birth, which is useful for verifying the normal growth of the fetus.

Furthermore, starting from the 32nd week of pregnancy, it is possible to undergo fetal flowmetry, a non-invasive and non-mandatory examination, similar to ultrasound, which allows to verify the correct blood circulation of the fetus.

A vaginal swab can be added to normal blood and urine tests to look for strep bacteria.

How the baby grows in the eighth month of pregnancy

After reaching the eighth month of pregnancy, the baby is now almost fully formed. The lungs have reached a good level of development, a state of fat is forming under the epidermis, to ensure thermoregulation after birth. The weight of him begins to be substantial. In fact, he weighs around 2 kg and grows about 200 grams per week.

As anticipated, in this month the baby chooses the position that - in all probability - he will keep until birth, given that the space in his mother's belly becomes increasingly narrow.

In some cases, if the baby gets into the breech position, the gynecologist may try some maneuvers to make him turn. However, this is not always possible.

There are not a few cases of children who are born in this gestational period, prematurely. It must be said, however, that babies born in the eighth month of pregnancy have a very good chance of breathing independently and not having complications. Thanks to the excellent assistance of neonatologists and nurses, they will grow up with the help of incubators to return home soon with their mum and dad.

Eighth month of pregnancy and premature birth

Babies who are born before the 37th week of pregnancy are called premature. There are not a few cases of children born in the eighth month of pregnancy: the reasons can be the most disparate, early contractions, lack of amniotic fluid, problems that affect the mother or the child.

It is an event that expectant mothers must take into account, but what reassures them are the data: premature babies in the eighth month of pregnancyin fact, they have a survival rate of over 90%. They will no doubt need assistance and will be monitored in the first few weeks of life. They may need respiratory assistance (not necessarily), as the lungs are not fully developed. There are children, born in the eighth month, however, who can already be breastfed by their mothers because in this gestational period the sucking is already present.

Should this event arise, a team of professionals (neonatologists, pediatric nurses) will be ready to accompany mum and dad in this unexpected experience and will take care of the little one in the best possible way to make him recover and return home soon.

Dos and don'ts in the eighth month of pregnancy

Let's see what are the main precautions to have in the eighth month of pregnancy and, therefore, the things that the future mother must do and not do:

MUST do breathing exercises (essential at the time of labor)
MUST NOT eat for two, but eat a balanced diet
You MUST NOT skip meals and always include healthy snacks (such as fresh fruit) in your daily diet
You MUST NOT forget to spread anti-stretch mark oil or cream on your hips, breasts and stomach every day
You MUST NOT forget to take the vitamins prescribed by the gynecologist, essential for the growth of the fetus
You MUST NOT take too much caffeine, do not drink alcohol, smoke
YOU SHOULD NOT underestimate dental problems and red gums (which can occur in pregnancy)
You MUST NOT get too tired or make special efforts
YOU MUST NOT expose yourself to harmful substances
You MUST NOT lead a too sedentary lifestyle: we recommend a walk a day and some adequate physical activity (yoga, stretching, pilates)
You MUST NOT underestimate pain in the legs and back and do massages, stretching and relaxation exercises
MUST undergo routine medical examinations and if required by the doctor to the blood glucose curve
MUST proceed with the maternity leave procedures
MUST CHOOSE where she will go to give birth
You MUST have your delivery suitcase ready
MUST prepare everything needed for the baby's arrival

Maternity leave

The eighth month is the first in which the mother, if she wants, can go to maternity. The maternity leave, in fact, covers 5 months between the birth which can be divided as follows:

2 before childbirth and 3 after
1 before childbirth and after
5 months after delivery

The latter is, of course, an option that can be chosen if it does not involve any risk for the woman or the child. All of this has been confirmed again for 2022 as well.

Maternity leave in detail is up to:

employees insured with INPS also for maternity, including workers insured under IPSEMA;
apprentices, workers, office workers, managers with an employment relationship in progress at the beginning of the leave;
unemployed or suspended, in accordance with the provisions of article 24 of the aforementioned Single Maternity / Paternity Text (TU);
permanent or fixed-term agricultural workers who, in the year of the start of the leave, are in possession of the status of laborer with registration in the annual lists of names for at least 51 days of agricultural work (article 63 of the Consolidated Law);
female workers in domestic and family services (domestic workers and carers), in accordance with the provisions of article 62 of the Consolidated Law;
home workers (Article 61 of the Consolidated Law);
LSU or APU workers (socially useful or public utility activities of article 65 of the Consolidated Law);
workers enrolled in the INPS Separate Account and not retired in possession of the contribution requirement established by law to finance maternity economic benefits. The related indemnity is recognized regardless of actual abstention from work;
workers employed by public administrations (including female employees formerly INPDAP and ENPALS) who are required to fulfill the obligations established by law in the event of maternity towards the public administration on which they depend and from which they receive the relative indemnity, corresponding to the economic treatment, according to the provisions of articles 2 and 57 of the TU.

During the periods of maternity leave, the worker is entitled to receive an economic allowance equal to 80% of the daily wage calculated on the basis of the last pay period expired immediately before the start of maternity leave, therefore, as a rule, on the basis of the last month of work preceding the month of the start of the leave.

The weeks of pregnancy

The eighth month of pregnancy goes from the 30th week and 5 days to the 35th week. It is a very important month - as anticipated - of hers for mom and baby. During this month, the mother often begins to feel some contraction, the baby defines her position, the gynecologist understands if you can opt for a natural birth or a cesarean.

It is very close: mom and dad will soon get to know their little one or their little one.

All months of pregnancy

First month of pregnancy

Second month of pregnancy

Third month of pregnancy

Fourth month of pregnancy

Fifth month of pregnancy

Sixth month of pregnancy

Seventh month of pregnancy

Sources: www.inps.com; www.ospedalebambinogesù.com; www.iss.com

Eighth month of pregnancy: what happens, visits and advice